Technology helps police nab top Maoist leader in Jharkhand
RANCHI: Jharkhand police produced senior Maoist leader, Shiv Prasad Singh alias Rohitji alias Ritlal alias Pawanji before media on Thursday evening, almost 26 hours after he was arrested from Patratu under Pithoria police station at 4PM on Wednesday. Rohitji, known to be a member of Bihar Jharkhand Special Area committee (BJSAC) since formation of CPI (Maoist) in 2004 carries a reward of Rs.25 lakh in Jharkhand whereas he is also learnt to be in the most wanted list of Bihar police with a separate cash reward of Rs.10 lakh in his name.
Use of technology by police and flouting of usual norms practiced by the Maoists helped police nab the top leader with ease. While photography of senior leaders among the ranks and file of Maoists is completely restricted, Rohitji had recently got a photograph clicked with two body guards standing by his side. Having obtained a copy of the photograph police circulated it strategically on social media that eventually helped them not just gather intelligence but also identify the man soon after being taken into custody.
Police sources said that the weapon in the hands of those guarding the man on chair indicated that he must be an important leader within the outfit.
Ranchi Senior SP Prabhat Kumar said that responding to an intelligence input on Wednesday afternoon they formed a team under ASP operations Harshpal Singh to conduct raid in Nakari forest in Patratu where Rohitji was going to meet his family members. "The team came across one elderly man with features resembling the graphical details of the person we were looking for and in course of interrogation he admitted his name to be Shiv Prasad Singh," Kumar said. The person was immediately detained and taken to his Patratu bound residence where family members also identified him as Shiv Prasad aka Rohitji following which he was taken into custody.
Asked if police flouted norms while arresting, Kumar said that they delayed confirmation of the arrest to be sure about the identity of the person. "We also took him to forests in Nakari, Beti and Harihartoli to conduct raids on his information," Kumar said.
Native of Sevnan village under Karona police station of Jehanabad district in Bihar, Rohitji joined CPI party Unity in 1984 and became state member of Kisan Sangram Committee in 1994. He has been SAC member of the CPI Maoist since its formation in 2004, post-merger of Peoples War and Maoist Communist Centre. He is wanted in a number of cases in Gumla, Chainpur Lohardaga, Latehar of Jharkhand and Aurangabad district of Bihar. "We are collecting information from Bihar police about his involvement in cases in Gaya and other bordering districts," Kumar said.
While family members claimed that he suffered fracture almost three years ago and had not been active in the Maoist movements, police claimed that he was injured in Chanpipat encounter that occurred on February 21 earlier this year. Police admitted that after initial reluctance, Rohitji has been cooperative in interrogation and they are likely to come across some vital information in course of interrogation after he is taken on remand. Earlier in the day spokesperson BJSAC, Gopal Ji had threatened to call for 24 hour bandh on April 20 in case their leader was not produced before media or court within 24 hours. "We condemn the way Rohitji has been kidnapped by the police and if they do not produce him we are going to call for a bandh in Bihar and Jharkhand," he had said.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Technology-helps-police-nab-top-Maoist-leader-in-Jharkhand/articleshow/46948635.cms
Use of technology by police and flouting of usual norms practiced by the Maoists helped police nab the top leader with ease. While photography of senior leaders among the ranks and file of Maoists is completely restricted, Rohitji had recently got a photograph clicked with two body guards standing by his side. Having obtained a copy of the photograph police circulated it strategically on social media that eventually helped them not just gather intelligence but also identify the man soon after being taken into custody.
Police sources said that the weapon in the hands of those guarding the man on chair indicated that he must be an important leader within the outfit.
Ranchi Senior SP Prabhat Kumar said that responding to an intelligence input on Wednesday afternoon they formed a team under ASP operations Harshpal Singh to conduct raid in Nakari forest in Patratu where Rohitji was going to meet his family members. "The team came across one elderly man with features resembling the graphical details of the person we were looking for and in course of interrogation he admitted his name to be Shiv Prasad Singh," Kumar said. The person was immediately detained and taken to his Patratu bound residence where family members also identified him as Shiv Prasad aka Rohitji following which he was taken into custody.
Asked if police flouted norms while arresting, Kumar said that they delayed confirmation of the arrest to be sure about the identity of the person. "We also took him to forests in Nakari, Beti and Harihartoli to conduct raids on his information," Kumar said.
Native of Sevnan village under Karona police station of Jehanabad district in Bihar, Rohitji joined CPI party Unity in 1984 and became state member of Kisan Sangram Committee in 1994. He has been SAC member of the CPI Maoist since its formation in 2004, post-merger of Peoples War and Maoist Communist Centre. He is wanted in a number of cases in Gumla, Chainpur Lohardaga, Latehar of Jharkhand and Aurangabad district of Bihar. "We are collecting information from Bihar police about his involvement in cases in Gaya and other bordering districts," Kumar said.
While family members claimed that he suffered fracture almost three years ago and had not been active in the Maoist movements, police claimed that he was injured in Chanpipat encounter that occurred on February 21 earlier this year. Police admitted that after initial reluctance, Rohitji has been cooperative in interrogation and they are likely to come across some vital information in course of interrogation after he is taken on remand. Earlier in the day spokesperson BJSAC, Gopal Ji had threatened to call for 24 hour bandh on April 20 in case their leader was not produced before media or court within 24 hours. "We condemn the way Rohitji has been kidnapped by the police and if they do not produce him we are going to call for a bandh in Bihar and Jharkhand," he had said.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Technology-helps-police-nab-top-Maoist-leader-in-Jharkhand/articleshow/46948635.cms
Comments